The NFL Supplemental Draft has been on hiatus since 2019, but it is making its triumphant return in 2023.
The NFL’s 32 clubs will have a chance to add Purdue’s Milton Wright and Jacksonville State’s Malachi Wideman to their rosters on July 11. There’s no guarantee that clubs will want to burn their 2024 draft picks to add either receiver, but the process will still create some midsummer intrigue for the sport that wouldn’t otherwise be there.
Some will scoff at the notion that the supplemental draft will produce any impact players. After all, very few players are actually selected, so the chances of a star emerging from the pack are slim.
Still, the process has generated a couple of stars in its history and a handful of decade-long quality starters as well.
But who are the best NFL Supplemental Draft Picks of all time? Here’s a breakdown of the top player selections, starting with the lone Hall of Famer to emerge from the process.
MORE: Everything to know about the NFL Supplemental Draft
Best NFL Supplemental Draft picks
1. Cris Carter, WR, Ohio State
- Year: 1987
- Round: 4th
- Selected by: Eagles
Carter remains the pinnacle of success for supplemental draft picks. The former Eagles and Vikings star entered the supplemental draft in 1987 after being suspended for his senior season for signing with an agent before the conclusion of his collegiate career.
Carter gradually improved in each of his first three seasons with the Eagles before he was surprisingly cut ahead of his fourth season. He was claimed off waivers by the Vikings and eventually broke out during his seventh season.
From 1993 to 2000, Carter recorded eight consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and led the NFL in receiving touchdowns three times, logging. a career-best 17 in 1995. He was named to the Pro Bowl in all eight seasons and was twice an All-Pro first-teamer.
Carter’s productivity and longevity eventually earned him a Hall of Fame nod in 2013. He is the only supplemental draft pick ever to earn Hall of Fame honors.
2. Bernie Kosar, QB, Miami
- Year: 1985
- Round: 1st
- Selected by: Browns
Kosar’s entry into the 1985 supplemental draft is what really drew attention to the previously underutilized team-building tool. The Miami product starred for the Hurricanes but was seemingly preparing to enter the 1985 NFL Draft as he graduated following his junior year.
However, Kosar wanted to play for the Browns. As such, he schemed to enter the 1985 supplemental draft, a draft in which the Browns had acquired the first pick from the Bills. This caused some uproar from the Oilers and Vikings, who were hoping to draft Kosar in 1985. Still, he was ultimately allowed to go through with his plans to play in Cleveland.
Kosar had a solid career in Cleveland, posting a winning record in four of his first five seasons with the team. He finished third in the AP Offensive Player of the Year voting in 1987, his lone Pro Bowl campaign, and generated a 53-51-1 in total.
Unfortunately, injuries marred Kosar’s career and caused him to decline after his first five seasons. As a result, he never quite lived up to the hype that surrounded his draft status in 1985. Still, he enjoyed a solid career and won a Super Bowl ring as a backup for the Cowboys, so that’s enough to put him among the supplemental draft greats.
3. Jamal Williams, DT, Oklahoma State
- Year: 1998
- Round: 2nd
- Selected by: Chargers
Williams entered the 1998 supplemental draft after being declared academically ineligible ahead of his senior season. The Chargers spent a second-round pick on him and eventually saw him develop into one of the NFL’s most feared run stuffers.
Williams started his career slowly before the Chargers’ shift to a 3-4 defense in 2004 sparked him. At 6-3, 348 pounds, he was a natural fit for the scheme and generated a career-best four sacks in that season. He made three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2005 to 2007 and was twice an All-Pro first-teamer during that span.
All told, Williams played in 164 games during his 13-year NFL career and recorded 443 tackles, 55 TFL and 13 sacks. He spent 12 of his 13 seasons with the Chargers and his final campaign with the Broncos.
4. Ahmad Brooks, LB, Virginia
- Year: 2006
- Round: 3rd
- Selected by: Bengals
One could make a case for Brooks being ranked ahead of Williams as the best supplemental draft defender of all time. Brooks entered the supplemental draft after being dismissed from the team at Virginia. He was selected by the Bengals, who initially played him at linebacker in their 4-3 defense. That didn’t work out and Cincinnati parted with Brooks after two seasons.
The 49ers picked up Brooks and employed him on the edge in their 3-4 alignment. That move turned him into a productive pass rusher. And while he may not have been the flashiest player during his NFL career, he generated 51.5 sacks in eight seasons with San Francisco.
In total, Brooks played 145 games during his career making 104 starts. He racked up 391 tackles, 55 sacks, 32 pass defenses, made one Pro Bowl and had two All-Pro second-team nods during his career. He may not have been a true star, but Brooks was an underrated starter who helped the 49ers defense become one of the fiercest units of the early 2010s.
5. Rob Moore, WR, Syracuse
- Year: 1990
- Round: 1st
- Selected by: Jets
Moore was another early graduate who entered the supplemental draft after failing to declare in time for the 1990 NFL Draft. The Jets scooped him up and he put together a great decade-long NFL career.
Moore spent his first five seasons with the Jets and flew under the radar during that time. He posted just one, 1,000-yard season during that time but averaged 61.2 catches, 851.6 yards and 4.4 touchdowns per season in New York.
Upon his arrival in Arizona, Moore was ready to break out. He became a top starter for the Cardinals, posting two 1,000-yard seasons and logging a league-high 1,584 receiving yards in 1997, his lone All-Pro season.
Moore was underappreciated for his consistent production and his ability to stay on the field. He finished his career having played 153 games and with 628 catches, 9,368 yards and 49 touchdowns to his name.
6. Mike Wahle, OL, Navy
- Year: 1998
- Round: 2nd
- Selected by: Packers
Jamal Williams wasn’t the only starting-caliber lineman selected in the 1998 supplemental draft. Wahle entered the draft after testing positive for steroids and being suspended for his senior season at Navy. He was selected ahead of Williams in the second round and went on to become a decade-long NFL starter.
Wahle played in 152 games with 138 starts, which primarily came at guard. He spent seven years with the Packers before spending three with the Panthers and one with the Seahawks. He made one Pro Bowl in his career which came during his 2005 season in Carolina.
7. Josh Gordon, WR, Baylor
- Year: 2012
- Round: 2nd
- Selected by: Browns
Gordon is one of the great what-could-have-been stories for the NFL. He entered the supplemental draft after being dismissed by Baylor for failing a drug test and those substance abuse issues followed him to the NFL.
Gordon’s rookie season was a strong one, as he generated 50 catches, 805 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games (13 starts). But in truth, he burst onto the scene the following year, during which he led the league with 1,649 receiving yards on 87 catches with nine touchdowns. And that came in just 14 games.
However, after that, Gordon struggled to stay on the field. He has played in just 47 games since the start of the 2014 season and has faced several year-long suspensions for violations of the league’s substance abuse policy. He generated just 115 catches, 1,833 yards and seven touchdowns during that time because of his inability to stay on the field.
Still, Gordon was an AP All-Pro first-teamer in 2013 and that campaign was among the best by a receiver in NFL history. There’s no denying his talent and it’s worth wondering whether he could have risen to a Carter-like stratosphere under different circumstances.
MORE: How Josh Gordon ended up with XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons in 2023
8. Bobby Humphrey, RB, Alabama
- Year: 1989
- Round: 1st
- Selected by: Broncos
Humphrey’s career is another great “what if” in the NFL world. He was the first Broncos running back to generate back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, averaging 1,176.5 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground in his first two seasons.
Entering his third season, Humphrey wanted a new contract with the Broncos because of his strong performance. Denver refused to negotiate as a part of the team’s policy, so Humphrey held out until Week 14. He lost his starting job to Gaston Green during that time and struggled to get back into playing shape.
Humphrey played sparingly in 1991 and was traded to the Dolphins in 1992. He totaled 978 scrimmage yards as a backup in Miami but didn’t play again after that.
Perhaps Humphrey’s career would have gone differently if he hadn’t held out. Even still, his two good seasons as a starter and his 1990 Pro Bowl nod make him one of the most successful supplemental draft picks of all time.
9. Jalen Thompson, S, Washington State
- Year: 2019
- Round: 5th
- Selected by: Cardinals
Thompson represents a more recent example of a supplemental draft success. The Cardinals selected Thompson after he was declared ineligible for his senior season following a violation of NCAA rules, and he has developed into a quality starting safety.
To date, Thompson has played in 54 NFL games and made 42 starts. He has shown solid skills in coverage but has been especially good in run defense. He has averaged 116.5 tackles per season in his two years as a starter (2021 and 2022) and will only turn 25 on July 18.
Thompson hasn’t yet claimed any NFL honors, but there is no doubt that he is a productive player. If he can continue to improve in coverage and become a do-it-all safety, he will have a chance to move up this list. Either way, he is tracking to be one of the best supplemental draft picks in NFL history.
Full list of NFL Supplemental Draft picks
The NFL has been holding a supplemental draft as needed since 1977, when the Seahawks selected Notre Dame running back Al Hunter using a fourth-round round selection from the 1978 NFL Draft.
The most recent player selected in the NFL Supplemental Draft was Jalen Thompson. The Cardinals used a fifth-round pick to choose the Washington State safety in 2019.
There have been 46 total players selected in the history of the NFL Supplemental Draft. Below is the full list of the players chosen by year.
| Year | Player | Position | Round | Team | College |
| 1977 | Al Hunter | RB | 4th | Seahawks | Notre Dame |
| 1978 | Johnnie Dirden | WR | 10th | Oilers | Sam Houston State |
| 1978 | Rod Connors | RB | 12th | 49ers | USC |
| 1979 | Rod Stewart | RB | 6th | Bills | Kentucky |
| 1980 | Matthew Teague | DE | 7th | Falcons | Prairie View A&M |
| 1980 | Billy Mullins | WR | 9th | Chargers | USC |
| 1981 | Dave Wilson | QB | 1st | Saints | Illinois |
| 1981 | Chy Davidson | WR | 11th | Patriots | Rhode Island |
| 1982 | Kevin Robinson | CB | 9th | Lions | North Carolina A&T |
| 1985 | Bernie Kosar | QB | 1st | Browns | Miami (FL) |
| 1985 | Roosevelt Snipes | RB | 8th | 49ers | Florida State |
| 1986 | Charles Crawford | RB | 7th | Eagles | Oklahoma State |
| 1987 | Brian Bosworth | LB | 1st | Seahawks | Oklahoma |
| 1987 | Dan Sileo | DT | 3rd | Buccaneers | Miami (FL) |
| 1987 | Cris Carter | WR | 4th | Eagles | Ohio State |
| 1988 | Ryan Bethea | WR | 5th | Vikings | South Carolina |
| 1989 | Steve Walsh | QB | 1st | Cowboys | Miami (FL) |
| 1989 | Timm Rosenbach | QB | 1st | Cardinals | Washington State |
| 1989 | Bobby Humphrey | RB | 1st | Broncos | Alabama |
| 1989 | Brett Young | DB | 8th | Bills | Oregon |
| 1989 | Mike Lowman | RB | 12th | Cowboys | Coffeyville Community College |
| 1990 | Rob Moore | WR | 1st | Jets | Syracuse |
| 1990 | Willie Williams | TE | 9th | Cardinals | LSU |
| 1992 | Dave Brown | QB | 1st | Giants | Duke |
| 1992 | Darren Mickell | DE | 2nd | Chiefs | Florida |
| 1994 | Tito Wooten | CB | 4th | Giants | Northeast Louisiana |
| 1994 | John Davis | TE | 5th | Cowboys | Emporia State |
| 1995 | Darren Benson | DT | 3rd | Cowboys | Trinity Valley Community College |
| 1998 | Mike Wahle | OT | 2nd | Packers | Navy |
| 1998 | Jamal Williams | NT | 2nd | Chargers | Oklahoma State |
| 1999 | J’Juan Cherry | CB | 4th | Patriots | Arizona State |
| 2002 | Milford Brown | G | 6th | Texans | Florida State |
| 2003 | Tony Hollings | RB | 2nd | Texans | Georgia Tech |
| 2005 | Manuel Wright | DT | 5th | Dolphins | USC |
| 2006 | Ahmad Brooks | LB | 3rd | Bengals | Virginia |
| 2007 | Paul Oliver | S | 4th | Chargers | Georgia |
| 2007 | Jared Gaither | OT | 5th | Ravens | Maryland |
| 2009 | Jeremy Jarmon | DE | 3rd | Redskins | Kentucky |
| 2010 | Harvey Unga | FB | 7th | Bears | BYU |
| 2010 | Josh Brent | NT | 7th | Cowboys | Illinois |
| 2011 | Terrelle Pryor | QB | 3rd | Raiders | Ohio State |
| 2012 | Josh Gordon | WR | 2nd | Browns | Baylor |
| 2015 | Isaiah Battle | OT | 5th | Rams | Clemson |
| 2018 | Sam Beal | CB | 3rd | Giants | Western Michigan |
| 2018 | Adonis Alexander | CB | 6th | Redskins | Virginia Tech |
| 2019 | Jalen Thompson | S | 5th | Cardinals | Washington State |